A Washington, DC, defense attorney, Stanton Shaw keeps his head cool, his questions sharp, and his arguments irrefutable. They don’t call him the Jury Charmer for nothing—with his southern drawl, disarming smile, and captivating green eyes, he’s a hard man to say no to. Men want to be him, and women want to be thoroughly cross examined by him.

Stanton’s a man with a plan. And for a while, life was going according to that plan.

Until the day he receives an invitation to the wedding of his high school sweetheart, the mother of his beloved ten-year-old daughter. Jenny is getting married—to someone who isn't him.

That's definitely not part of the plan.

***

Sofia Santos is a city-raised, no-nonsense litigator who plans to become the most revered criminal defense attorney in the country. She doesn't have time for relationships or distractions.

But when Stanton, her "friend with mind-blowing benefits," begs her for help, she finds herself out of her element, out of her depth, and obviously out of her mind. Because she agrees to go with him to The-Middle-Of-Nowhere, Mississippi, to do all she can to help Stanton win back the woman he loves. Her head tells her she's crazy...and her heart says something else entirely.

What happens when you mix a one-stop-light town, two professional arguers, a homecoming queen, four big brothers, some Jimmy Dean sausage, and a gun-toting Nana?

The Bourbon flows, passions rise, and even the best-laid plans get overruled by the desires of the heart.

When you’re a defense attorney in Washington DC, you see first-hand how hard life can be and that sometimes the only way to survive is to become harder. I have a reputation for being cold, callous, intimidating – and that suits me just fine. In fact, it’s necessary when I’m breaking down a witness on the stand.

Complications don’t work for me - I’m a “need-to-know” type of man. If you’re my client, tell me the basic facts. If you’re my date, stick to what will get you off. I’m not a therapist or Prince Charming – and I don’t pretend to be.

Then Chelsea McQuaid and her six orphaned nieces and nephews came along and complicated the ever-loving hell out of my life. Now I’m going to Mommy & Me classes, One Direction concerts, the emergency room and am knee deep in a damn compost pit.

Chelsea’s too sweet, too innocent and too gorgeous for her own good. She tries to be hard, but she’s not. She needs someone to help her, defend her…and the kids.

Kennedy Randolph was the girl next door. The last time I saw her she was a shy, awkward teenager in a high school graduation cap. Now she’s a prosecutor – the opposing attorney in my next case.

And boy has Kennedy changed.

She’s stunning, self-assured…and wants to crush the most intimate – and prized – parts of my anatomy beneath the heels of her Christian Louboutins.

Life isn't always fair – tragedies strike – I understand that better than most. But I've never let that stop me from living a fulfilling life. I set my goals high and then I reach them.

Now my sights are set on Kennedy.

Every argument, every objection just makes me want her more. The problem is - she knows it.

**

You never forget your first. Brent Mason was the first boy I ever loved – the first boy who broke my heart.

And he hasn't changed a bit.

He still looks like he stepped out of an Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue, still pretends to be oblivious to the hell his friends put me through in high school.

I’m not a lovesick social outcast anymore. I’m a Washington DC prosecutor and my winning streak is long. I think it’s time to put Brent through a little hell of his own.

Still, a part of me wonders if he’s as passionate in the bedroom as he is in the courtroom – and each fiery exchange brings me one step closer to finding out.

***

Will Brent and Kennedy end up in bed – or in contempt of court? APPEALED is a sexy, irreverent romance about first crushes, second chances and the final verdict of the heart.

Watch for more info as it becomes available including cover reveals and tours, you know I will be participating!

About the Author:

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By day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother of two who resides in a small, rural town in New Jersey. By night she is a keyboard crusader, toiling away the hours to bring her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. She has a long standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

Emma is an avid reader. Before her children were born she was known to consume whole books in a single day. Writing has also always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true.